FS Interview: John Sickels

 

Minor League Expert Sits Down with FutureSox

By FutureSox Staff

 

John Sickels of RotoWire.com and MinorLeagueBall is well known and respected throughout baseball as an intelligent mind and insightful talent evaluator of Minor League prospects. The former ESPN contributor took time to sit down with FutureSox to talk about some aspects of the White Sox system.

 

http://www.futuresox.com/frontpage/modules...cle&sid=367

Good stuff.

It seems he REALLY likes Lance.

Ah, the dreaded Sean Burroughs comparison for Sweeney.

John Sickels: Well, they like guys who throw strikes, and that’s understandable. Other systems are more interested in pure velocity and upside. Personally I think teams should try to get a mixture of types, some hard-throwers and some soft-tossers. I’m a believer in variety.

 

The Sox have to be careful, especially in this division. The Indians and Twins have loaded farm systems, the Tigers have a lot of good young pitching, and even the Royals have the foundation of a good offensive core for 2008. This division will be VERY dynamic in the coming years. The “win now” attitude has to be balanced with the need to keep the long-term talent flow up.

Great to observe national writers understanding our dilemma.

 

In the future, White Sox will competing with clubs within our division promoting very talented players. Signing "low key" players such as Dye, scavenging waiver wires for another Bobby Jenks, or building a championship club off of Thornton-esque trades cannot continue with regularity.

 

"Long-term talent flow" is definitely something our minor league system has to work on. And not just promoting average major league players, but those who'll compete with talent within our division. I don't care how difficult it is, it needs to be done. Detroit drafted Andrew Miller several months ago and he'll likely pitch for their club in September. Go ahead and reply, "he was drafted 6th," but that's too bad. We need people to be pressed within our scouting department and player development. Our "window is opportunity" isn't exactly widening.

 

BTW, great job having John Sickels agree to interview Futuresox. Even a short interview is good for the sites exposure. Who knows, perhaps when another trade occurs Sickels will cite Futuresox's expertise of a particular prospect.

Great to observe national writers understanding our dilemma.

 

In the future, White Sox will competing with clubs within our division promoting very talented players. Signing "low key" players such as Dye, scavenging waiver wires for another Bobby Jenks, or building a championship club off of Thornton-esque trades cannot continue with regularity.

 

"Long-term talent flow" is definitely something our minor league system has to work on. And not just promoting average major league players, but those who'll compete with talent within our division. I don't care how difficult it is, it needs to be done. Detroit drafted Andrew Miller several months ago and he'll likely pitch for their club in September. Go ahead and reply, "he was drafted 6th," but that's too bad. We need people to be pressed within our scouting department and player development. Our "window is opportunity" isn't exactly widening.

 

BTW, great job having John Sickels agree to interview Futuresox. Even a short interview is good for the sites exposure. Who knows, perhaps when another trade occurs Sickels will cite Futuresox's expertise of a particular prospect.

 

 

I figured you wonder about his take on Broadway some.... Talking with Row44, we're convinced if you ever see Lance, you'll go up to him and snap him in half.

I figured you wonder about his take on Broadway some.... Talking with Row44, we're convinced if you ever see Lance, you'll go up to him and snap him in half.

Lance should really get a restraining order on Flash.

I figured you wonder about his take on Broadway some.... Talking with Row44, we're convinced if you ever see Lance, you'll go up to him and snap him in half.

If I ever see Broadway I sure as hell wouldn't tell him my true thoughts. He's bigger than I am.

 

I don't hate him. I've just been carrying a grudge ever since he was drafted last season. Broadway embodies our current drafting philosophy of safe picks with "repeatable deliveries" and low ceilings. I can't blame him for being drafted by our organization. Frustrations mount when you watch Twins continually promote contributing pitcher after pitcher. Hell, now this is beginning to translate over into positional players. Little scrappy players who kill our ballclub, are solid defensively, and know their fundementals.

 

If he's at the end of our rotation in 2008 producing numbers around Buehrles for 8 million less I can't complain. Much. ( ) I don't know about Sickels 2007, midseason projection for Broadway. If he's needed, I'd hate to think what occured to our rotation to warrant such a midseason promotion.

If I ever see Broadway I sure as hell wouldn't tell him my true thoughts. He's bigger than I am.

 

I don't hate him. I've just been carrying a grudge ever since he was drafted last season. Broadway embodies our current drafting philosophy of safe picks with "repeatable deliveries" and low ceilings. I can't blame him for being drafted by our organization. Frustrations mount when you watch Twins continually promote contributing pitcher after pitcher. Hell, now this is beginning to translate over into positional players. Little scrappy players who kill our ballclub, are solid defensively, and know their fundementals.

 

If he's at the end of our rotation in 2008 producing numbers around Buehrles for 8 million less I can't complain. Much. ( ) I don't know about Sickels 2007, midseason projection for Broadway. If he's needed, I'd hate to think what occured to our rotation to warrant such a midseason promotion.

 

 

Watch Garza get rocked. Or not.

nice interview.

Wait, I am confused. A prospect's birthday is very, very important?

 

Sometimes, I just don't get sarcasm, apparently.

Wait, I am confused. A prospect's birthday is very, very important?

 

Sometimes, I just don't get sarcasm, apparently.

Ie, his age.

I had thought it might mean that, but for some reason I took it as "Someone born July 18th will be a much better than someone born April 22nd" instead of "A 24 year-old prospect in Low A isn't much of a prospect." Heh.

I had thought it might mean that, but for some reason I took it as "Someone born July 18th will be a much better than someone born April 22nd" instead of "A 24 year-old prospect in Low A isn't much of a prospect." Heh.

Whoah....April 22nd is a magical day

Completely coincidental, I assure you.